Companionship for abandoned foal

You may remember that Eggsy hasn't been too comfortable around the other equines. Since he came out of quarantine  we've been working at introducing him to other yard members, mostly he has seemed a little intimidated by them and has tried to hide out in the trees.

Ideally there would be another youngster to run and play with but unfortunately there isn't any young stock on his yard but Eggsy has found someone he is happy to spend time with

our oldest equine, a retired ex-racehorse ~ talk about little and large!
Would you like to help Eggsy? 

Eggsy has a Ko-fi page where you can buy Eggsy a "coffee" the donation is spent on Eggsy's essential care, food etc, we'd be really grateful if you'd go take a look, share it far and wide via your social media and of course if you can spare some money please donate.

Click to help Eggsy Pony by buying him a coffee on Ko-fi 

Thank you, Eggsy and I really appreciate it x

It takes a village to raise ~ an abandoned foal

We  have also have some good news in that the annual fun dog show that takes place on the Pink Tractor Field just off the A47 at Wisbech has added Eggsy to their beneficiaries this year:

Fun Day Dog Show

Sunday 2nd August 2015

With Bright Eyes Photography

In aid of Bulldog rescue & rehoming (reg.charity no: 1115009)

Sunshine Therapeutic Riding School

Osteosarcome research IWGH

& Eggsy (foal)

At Pink Tractor Field, Redmoor Lane, Wisbech (off A47) PE140RN

tel: 01945 580739 / 07776196751

Entries from 10am. £1.00 per class per dog. Ring side parking. 

Rosettes 1st-6th place. Refreshments. Tombola.

Stands welcome; FREE FOR RESCUES / CHARITIES

20 classes + individual best in show classes

Would you like to help Eggsy? 

Eggsy has a Ko-fi page where you can buy Eggsy a "coffee" the donation is spent on Eggsy's essential care, food etc, we'd be really grateful if you'd go take a look, share it far and wide via your social media and of course if you can spare some money please donate.

Click to help Eggsy Pony by buying him a coffee on Ko-fi 

Thank you, Eggsy and I really appreciate it x

Quarantine over for abandoned foal

Eggsy's quaratine period is over, quarantining abandoned equines is essential to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and parasites to other horses on your property, so now it's time to introduce him to some equine companionship.

Eggsy isn't very comfortable around other horses at the moment, not surprising really as he will only have spent time with his mother who, sadly, will have been tethered. He has no idea about herd dynamics. Also because he was confined in a very small space by his 1st owners, the ones who abandoned him, Eggsy hasn't learned to run and play so we're taking things very slowly letting him get used to horses from the safety of the other side of the fence to start with.

Would you like to help Eggsy? 

Eggsy has a Ko-fi page where you can buy Eggsy a "coffee" the donation is spent on Eggsy's essential care, food etc, we'd be really grateful if you'd go take a look, share it far and wide via your social media and of course if you can spare some money please donate.

Click to help Eggsy Pony by buying him a coffee on Ko-fi 

Thank you, Eggsy and I really appreciate it x

The cost of raising an abandoned foal

So I've been doing the sums and the cost of keeping an abandoned foal is really quite scary...

It's a legal requirement for equines to be microchipped and passported, this is going to cost, including vet call out fee for microchipping, £101.57

He absolutely must be vaccinated against tetanus, cost for both shots including just one vet call out fee (hope to get 1st shot done when microchipped) is £95.04

Being a colt Eggsy will need that essential op - gelding! That according to my vet will be in the region of £300 (again including call out) if there are no complications.

Then there are farrier costs, every 6 weeks, worming and sometime during the first year we will have his teeth looked at.

All that without feeding!

I've done the figures and it's looking like Eggsy is going to cost in the region of £2,000 in his first year alone, the most expensive due to gelding, and raising a foal is a long term commitment ....

I can't afford this by myself so I'm having to ask for help.

Would you like to help Eggsy? 

Eggsy has a Ko-fi page where you can buy Eggsy a "coffee" the donation is spent on Eggsy's essential care, food etc, we'd be really grateful if you'd go take a look, share it far and wide via your social media and of course if you can spare some money please donate.

Click to help Eggsy Pony by buying him a coffee on Ko-fi 

Thank you, Eggsy and I really appreciate it x

Improved condition of abandoned colt

Regular feeds have changed our abandoned colt from

this 

to this

just look at that butt!

Really pleased with how Eggsy 's condition has improved, now we just need him to grow out of those sticky stifles.

Would you like to help Eggsy? 

Eggsy has a Ko-fi page where you can buy Eggsy a "coffee" the donation is spent on Eggsy's essential care, food etc, we'd be really grateful if you'd go take a look, share it far and wide via your social media and of course if you can spare some money please donate.

Click to help Eggsy Pony by buying him a coffee on Ko-fi 

Thank you, Eggsy and I really appreciate it x

First hoof trim for abandoned foal

Eggsy has had his feet done, the farrier visited and trimmed his hooves.

First trim for the little lad, 

as you can see he had quite a long "baby" toe. 

Pleased to say that Eggsy was as good as gold  throughout, he got a well deserved treat after his trim.
The farrier also confirmed that at the moment he is suffering from a locking stifle on both hinds.

Would you like to help Eggsy? 

Eggsy has a Ko-fi page where you can buy Eggsy a "coffee" the donation is spent on Eggsy's essential care, food etc, we'd be really grateful if you'd go take a look, share it far and wide via your social media and of course if you can spare some money please donate.

Click to help Eggsy Pony by buying him a coffee on Ko-fi 

Thank you, Eggsy and I really appreciate it x

Foal Abandoned with Locking Stifle

This is probably the reason for the foal's abandonment, take a look at the off hind, he is dragging his leg.

Those Gypsy Cob feathers don't make it that easy to see but he is suffering from a locked stifle.

If you compare these two photographs, above and below, of the hind leg you'll see that he has dragged his leg along the ground and in the above picture is standing with a bent fetlock.

"Sticky stifles" aren't uncommon at certain stages of a foals development, usually when they are "bum high".

Eggsy 's is exacerbated by his conformation having a rather straight stifle. 

It was probably also made worse by the conditions he was kept in by his previous owners. Bought as a weanling he was kept in their garden in a pen at the side of the house with barely room to move around.

Eggsy now has plenty of room to move and as you can see once the stifle unlocks he is perfectly able to get around. Backing a pony up will release the stifle and building his muscles will help improve the condition, 80% of foals that suffer from a locking stifle grow out of it. We're hopeful that with a suitable exercise routine, good nourishment and time Eggsy will recover.

Would you like to help Eggsy? 

Eggsy has a Ko-fi page where you can buy Eggsy a "coffee" the donation is spent on Eggsy's essential care, food etc, we'd be really grateful if you'd go take a look, share it far and wide via your social media and of course if you can spare some money please donate.

Click to help Eggsy Pony by buying him a coffee on Ko-fi 

Thank you, Eggsy and I really appreciate it x